James Harper (rugby union)
Date of birth | [1] | 16 October 2000||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Place of birth | Liverpool | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 191 cm (6 ft 3 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 115 kg (18 st 2 lb)[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Merchant Taylors' Boys' School, Crosby | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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James Harper (born 16 October 2000) is an English rugby union player who plays as a prop forward for Sale Sharks.
Early life
Harper attended Merchant Taylors' Boys School in Great Crosby, Merseyside, where he started playing rugby union aged eleven years-old.[4][5] He played rugby union at county level for Lancashire, and for Waterloo RUFC and Southport RUFC.[6]
Career
Harper joined the Sale Sharks academy from Southport RUFC whilst in his teens. After professing through the academy, he made his Premiership Rugby debut against London Irish on March 21, 2021.[7] Harper spent time on loan at Caldy RFC, and he helped them to win the 2021–22 National League 1 title.[8][9] He has also spent time on loan at Coventry RFC and playing in the Shute Shield for Australian side Western Sydney Two Blues.[10]
In September 2022, he signed a new four-year contract with Sale.[11]
References
- ^ "James Harper". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "James Harper". TNT Sports. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "James Harper". all.rugby. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ Grimes, Victoria (29 April 2021). "Liverpool Merchant Taylors' school first in UK to give rugby head guards to Year 7 pupils to guard against concussion". ITV. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "HARPER MAKES PREMIERSHIP RUGBY DEBUT". Merchanttaylors. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ Ellis, Graham (29 February 2016). "Birkdale High pupil Johnson inspires Lancashire fightback in Roses clash". Southportvisiter.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "PREMIERSHIP Sharks star pens new deal". Huge Rugby. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ Lyon, John (24 April 2022). "Ben strikes to see Caldy to victory and the title". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ Heagney, Liam (22 May 2022). "The 'sweet spot' Sale hope to hit loaning out their young players". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ Heagney, Liam (8 September 2022). "As a raw talent with potential, he's as good as anyone at tighthead'". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "James Harper: Sale Sharks prop signs new deal until end of 2025-26 season". BBC Sport. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2023.